At least 19 militants were killed on Thursday in Bakool district in western Somalia during clashes between Al Shabab militants and fighters loyal to former Al Shabab leader Mukhtar Robow.

Officials said an Al Shabab forced Robow's loyalists to retreat from Abal village. But they later returned to beat back their attackers in a midday counter offensive, Voice Of America reported.

US army announced killing of a key leader in Al Shabab in an airstrike in southern Somalia.

Source : Mena